Hundreds of eager Knoxville residents will soon unlock the doors to their brand new homes, as the long-awaited Marble Alley lofts are set to open Wednesday, March 2.

With 248 units, Marble Alley is the first major new-construction residential development since the resurgence of downtown began more than a decade ago. It marks the beginning of a new stage in the revitalization of downtown.

It geographically and strategically closes a gap between the lively Market Square and Gay Street area and the expanding Old City.

The City of Knoxville, along with Knox County, is supporting the Marble Alley development project with a 10-year PILOT tax incentive. The City also has committed to $1.2 million in public infrastructure improvements. That will include new sidewalks, street lights and landscaping on State Street, Central Street and Commerce Avenue.

Crews in mid-February were pouring concrete for the new sidewalks on Commerce Avenue - part of a $1.2 million City streetscape project.

"There’s nothing like this in downtown Knoxville,” said Melissa Bennett, community manager for the project. “It’s going to bring a sense of community to downtown. We’re easily going to bring in 300 people right here between Market Square and the Old City.”

Marble Alley will be a community in itself, Bennett said. Residents will have access to a 24-hour clubhouse that will be the site for various community events each year; the clubhouse is complete with a pool and fitness center. Residents will also be part of Marble Alley’s smart partners program, which will give them discounts at participating local businesses to promote community engagement outside the walls of the complex.

“Residents will be able to say, ‘This is Marble Alley, my home,’ not ‘Marble Alley, my apartment,’" Bennett said.

So, to the hundreds of new downtown Knoxville residents: Welcome home!

- Communications intern Cortney Roark

Left: Workers last week were putting the finishing touches on the north end of Marble Alley.

Below: Check out a few more images of the interior of one of the Marble Alley units.